My 95 Trans Am, strange electrical happenings (Page 1/2)
nitroheadz28 SEP 25, 12:16 PM
A few weeks ago I had an accident in my T/A when I had to swerve to avoid hitting a driver who cut across the road into my lane. I slid in a steel post and mashed in my door post.

Mechanically the car ran perfectly afterwards, the door is seized and the window doesn't seal- so I parked it. A few days later, I went to start it and it took 2-3 more seconds for it to fire than usual.

A few days after that, the battery was dead. With a jump it fired right up.

I sourced a door that matches and was supposed to bring it into the shop to have it fixed 3 weeks ago , but even with a jump it wouldn't fire. Starter solenoid would click and nada. .

I swapped starters last monday, jumped it and attempted to start it. The starter didn't even click, it sounded like a relay clicks and that all that happened when I turned the key. The battery was at 5V with a jump.

This entire weekend I spent charging the Optima, first charging the batt from my grand prix, then hooking them up in parallel, and finally the Optima

I pop it in the car this morning, hook it up,put the key in the ignition- and NOTHING.. What the hell is going on? The only thing I disconnected was the battery cables since last time. Battery has 13V so its not that.

Please help me out guys, I suck at electrical and the fbody forums suck... I'm starting to lose patience

Thank you!!

[This message has been edited by nitroheadz28 (edited 09-25-2012).]

Tony Kania SEP 25, 12:33 PM
I have had corroded battery cables that look nearly new before. Perhaps that is it?

You have had terrible luck with your vehicles in the past year. Sorry Bro.

Tony
GreenPlatypus SEP 25, 01:35 PM
Try another battery, if possible. Had the same issue with my Camaro, optima discharged from sitting, tried jumping and charging it, nothing, had good volts but almost zero amps. Optima's don't do so well when they go flat. try disconnecting the battery and hooking the jump cables straight to the car's battery cables and see if it will turn over.
nitroheadz28 SEP 25, 02:44 PM
Tell me about it Tony


quote
Originally posted by GreenPlatypus:

Try another battery, if possible. Had the same issue with my Camaro, optima discharged from sitting, tried jumping and charging it, nothing, had good volts but almost zero amps. Optima's don't do so well when they go flat. try disconnecting the battery and hooking the jump cables straight to the car's battery cables and see if it will turn over.



Thats a start, I'll try the battery from my GP which I know is good. Thanks!!!
nitroheadz28 SEP 25, 05:32 PM
Well I fail because when I tried the Optima last time, the battery cables must have not been fully connected. This time I tried both batteries with the jumper cables, same result. Here is what I'm getting, the last 30 secs are useless and I was too lazy to edit..

http://www.youtube.com/watc...fGU&feature=youtu.be

I'm finding it strange that the volt gauge is indicating under 12V when its over 13 according to my el cheapo harbor freight tester and duralast battery charger.

[This message has been edited by nitroheadz28 (edited 09-25-2012).]

Jake_Dragon SEP 25, 06:49 PM
If you jump the trigger wire at the start will it turn over?
nitroheadz28 SEP 25, 07:04 PM
Forgive my noobness, but from what I googled that is related to amp installs?

Out of curiosity I went out again and hooked up the battery, I turned on the lights to see if they'd come up and they shine bright- which is an indicator that my wiring/ grounds are in good shape right? Now the D/S one wont come down cause of the fender
Jake_Dragon SEP 25, 07:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by nitroheadz28:

Forgive my noobness, but from what I googled that is related to amp installs?

Out of curiosity I went out again and hooked up the battery, I turned on the lights to see if they'd come up and they shine bright- which is an indicator that my wiring/ grounds are in good shape right? Now the D/S one wont come down cause of the fender



On your starter you have the heavy cable from the battery then there is a second wire that is hot when the key is turned and triggers the solenoid that kicks the starter on.
nitroheadz28 SEP 25, 07:42 PM
Yep, but what do you mean by jumping it? Hooking up jumper cables directly to that from a battery to see if it will turn over?
Jake_Dragon SEP 25, 09:13 PM
Thats one way.
All you really want to do is touch the positive cable to the lug that the trigger wire hooks to.
There are also remote switches that you can buy that hook to the starter and battery so you don't have to be under the car when you try to start it.